Sports

Cano's home run lifts Mariners past Orioles 6-3

Seattle Mariners' Robinson Cano (22) high-fives teammates and coaches as he walks off the field after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in Baltimore. Seattle won 6-3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)Show Caption

BALTIMORE (AP) — The percentages weighed heavily against Robinson Cano as he stepped into the batter's box against Miguel Gonzalez in the fifth inning of a tie game.

Cold numbers were rendered completely meaningless by the Seattle slugger, who provided the struggling Mariners with a pivotal three-run homer in a 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.

Cano was 2 for 23 lifetime against Gonzalez (5-6) before driving a split-finger fastball into the seats in right field to put the Mariners up 4-1. It was his eighth home run of the year, the first in 15 games since July 12.

"I had success with it throughout my career against him," Gonzalez said. "So I decided to throw that pitch. But it just stayed up, middle."

When Cano gets his bat on a mistake of a pitch, the results are usually predictable — regardless of who throws it.

"He was sharp," Cano said of Gonzalez. "It was only just that pitch that, he just threw it middle of the plate and I was able to make a good swing."

It was enough to give Seattle its eighth win in 21 games since July 7. The Mariners had scored two runs or fewer in seven of their previous 10 games, but the recent addition of Austin Jackson, Kendrys Morales, Chris Taylor and Chris Denorfia has provided hope that things will soon change.

"We don't have the big bopper in the middle of our lineup, obviously, but we've got some guys that are professional hitters and know the strike zone and know what they can do up there," manager Lloyd McClendon said.

Caleb Joseph homered and Manny Machado had three hits for the Orioles, whose previous seven games were decided by one run.

Coming off a 14-week stay on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle, Seattle starter James Paxton gave up two runs in 4 1-3 innings.